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Man Cleared for Killing Neighbor's Burglars - 'Castle Doctrine' Gives Texans Unprecedented .....
ABC News ^ | June 30, 2008 | CHRIS BURY and HOWARD L. ROSENBERG

Posted on 06/30/2008 5:14:58 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

'Castle Doctrine' Gives Texans Unprecedented Authority to Take Action Against Intruders

A Texas man who shot and killed two men he believed to be burglarizing his neighbor's home won't be going to trial. A grand jury today failed to indict Joe Horn, a 61-year-old computer technician who lives in an affluent subdivision in Pasadena, Texas.In the Lone Star state, where the six-gun tamed the frontier, shooting bad guys is a time-honored tradition, and Horn's case centered on a Texas state law based on the old idea that "a man's home is his castle." The "castle law" gives Texans unprecedented legal authority to use deadly force in their homes, vehicles and workplaces. And no longer do they have an obligation to retreat, if possible, before they shoot.

"I understand the concerns of some in the community regarding Mr. Horn's conduct," Harris County District Attorney Kenneth Magidson told reporters at the courthouse. "The use of deadly force is carefully limited in Texas law to certain circumstances. ... In this case, however, the grand jury concluded that Mr. Horn use of deadly force did not rise to a criminal offense."

'I'm Gonna Shoot!'

Horn called 911 in November to report a burglary in broad daylight at the house next door.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 2ndamendment; armedcitizenry; bang; banglist; burglar; burglary; castledoctrine; crime; intruder; joehorn; rkba; secondamendment; texas
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Alleluia!


61 posted on 06/30/2008 7:40:09 PM PDT by Mad Dawg (Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.)
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To: Eagle Eye
Joe shot these guys in the back with a shotgun and got by with it.

It has been demonstrated conclusively that in the time between the, neurologically speaking, making of the irrevocable decision to shoot and the movement of the trigger finger, a person can turn away.

Consider this sequence:

  1. Perp decides to turn away.
  2. Good guy decides to shoot.
  3. Perp actually turns away.
  4. Good guy shoots.
  5. Perp, having turned away is shot in the side or back.
The Force Science Institute has done the science.

The conclusion is clear. Keep your behind out of where it's not supposed to be.

62 posted on 06/30/2008 7:51:14 PM PDT by Mad Dawg (Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.)
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To: Onelifetogive

LOL.


63 posted on 06/30/2008 7:58:25 PM PDT by festus (Tagline removed.)
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To: Mad Dawg

Not to mention when a projectile travels through the body, the coroner will count two wounds. So yeah, it’s very possible there were gunshot wounds to the back.

The other poster is trusting the media to give an honest account of a shooting. I thought no one on FR did that.


64 posted on 06/30/2008 8:00:09 PM PDT by Shooter 2.5 (NRA - Vote against the dem party)
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To: Mad Dawg

Aw heck even if they already turned and started running before he raised old betsy and drew a bead on em shootin a fleeing felon is fine by me.


65 posted on 06/30/2008 8:03:05 PM PDT by festus (Tagline removed.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

When did Pasadena Texas become “affluent”? I presume that the “journalists” have never been there.


66 posted on 06/30/2008 8:03:31 PM PDT by writmeister
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To: Eagle Eye

“Joe shot these guys in the back with a shotgun and got by with it”

You shoot at what’s facing you. If it’s the back, too bad you were in a defensive position while committing a crime. Back, front,side, top, bottom what’s the difference?


67 posted on 06/30/2008 8:11:20 PM PDT by Figment ("A communist is someone who reads Marx.An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx" R Reagan)
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To: writmeister

It a newer section of Pasadena bordering Deer Park and Clear Lake.


68 posted on 06/30/2008 8:17:23 PM PDT by Jaded ("I have a mustard- seed; and I am not afraid to use it."- Joseph Ratzinger)
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To: Bear_in_RoseBear

“It was widely expected here that the grand jury would decline to prosecute”

And there aren’t 12 people in Texas who would be on a trial jury who would prosecute


69 posted on 06/30/2008 8:20:26 PM PDT by Figment ("A communist is someone who reads Marx.An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx" R Reagan)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; weegee; humblegunner; Eaker; TheMom; Squantos

Heard about this on the news tonight and CHEERED.


70 posted on 06/30/2008 8:25:19 PM PDT by Allegra (If you lived here, you'd be home by now.)
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To: river rat
TEXAS — STILL a Republic!

Only just barely.

Gov. Goodhair won't be happy until it's a typical banana republic.

71 posted on 06/30/2008 8:36:18 PM PDT by zeugma (Mark Steyn For Global Dictator!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

I notice that ABC news conveniently left off the lengthy criminal record of the deceased.


72 posted on 06/30/2008 8:42:48 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
We have a Castle Law in Alabama too.
73 posted on 06/30/2008 8:49:03 PM PDT by blam
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Dose anyone know if there is somewhere where we can put a few $$ for the lawyers. I will put in 50$ at least.


74 posted on 06/30/2008 9:17:40 PM PDT by Nick_123
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To: blam
A “Castle Law” is Good to have.

Armed Posse's were good in the days of the Old West too....

75 posted on 06/30/2008 9:51:20 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: ErnBatavia

That’s about what I’ve been told too. If the guy happens to crawl out the door, be sure to drag them back in. Hey, it works.


76 posted on 06/30/2008 9:53:00 PM PDT by DoughtyOne ( I say no to the Hillary Clinton wing of the Republican party. Not now or ever, John McCain...)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; Dog Gone; Grampa Dave; tubebender; dalereed; hedgetrimmer; forester; marsh2; ..
America! Where every man was a king, his spouse was a queen, his well educated children were his pride and legacy, his home was his castle and they were as sovereigns on their own land, enjoying the control that ownership had always provided!!!

Alas... it is no more!!!

Now even the fish in one's own pond, or stream are the state's and a license/permit is required to fish in it!!!

This is progress??? This has been the looting of America's hard won tradition!!!

77 posted on 06/30/2008 10:17:37 PM PDT by SierraWasp (No fool like an old fool! Juan McGore, the Republican McMaverick hates the media's challenging!!!)
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To: BigDaddyTX

Thanks,....


78 posted on 06/30/2008 10:24:12 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Onelifetogive
"This person who killed his neighbor's burglars had no right. He should have gotten his own burglars to kill. He should be made to pay triple damages and provide his neighbor 6 burglars to kill."

Ok, that's that hardest I've laughed in at least a week.

Too funny! Thanks!
79 posted on 06/30/2008 10:26:37 PM PDT by EasySt (The Republican is a Democrat, the Democrat is a crooked Socialist, and the Socialist is a Communist.)
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To: Eagle Eye
"Joe shot these guys in the back with a shotgun and got by with it."

When the right to use deadly force is present - there are NO RULES requiring "fair play"

The ONLY fair fight is the one you win, they die.

A dead perp, is a silent witness.

80 posted on 06/30/2008 10:38:21 PM PDT by river rat (Semper Fi - You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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